French Navy Took Delivery of Two Rafale M Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft in Latest F3 Standard

French Navy Took Delivery of Two Rafale M Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft in Latest F3 Standard

Posted On
Sunday, 26 July 2015 11:41

a

Naval
Forces News - France

French
Navy Took Delivery of Two Rafale M Multi-Role Fighter Aircraft in Latest
F3 Standard

On April 2 and July 9 respectively, two Rafale M in the latest "F3"
standard (the M42 and the M43) were delivered by Dassault Aviation to
the French Navy "Base d'aéronautique navale" (Naval
Air Station) of Landivisiau in Brittany. The M42 was assigned to Flottile
(Fighter Squadron) 12F while the M43 will soon join Flottile 11F.

Rafale M
F3 "M42" at the French Navy Naval Air Station Landivisiau
in Brittany. Picture: French Navy

By
2017, the French Navy expects to receive the last of the ten Rafale
M "F1" upgraded to "F3" standard as well as three
more new aircraft. The total number of Rafale M fighters in the latest
"F3" standard deployed by the French Navy will then be 42.
In October 2014, the French Navy took delivery of the first Rafale M
upgraded to the F3 standard.
The transition from the F1 standard to the F3 standard involves the
following changes:
» New modular electronic computers,
» New cockpit screens,
» Changes to the aircraft’s electrical wiring,
» Upgrading of the Spectra countermeasures system,
» Changes to the RBE2 PESA radar (interchangeable with the new
AESA antenna),
» Changes to the weapon store stations.

The delivery of the retrofitted Rafale Marine aircraft will be staggered
over a period up to 2017.

The F3 standard provides the Navy and Air Force Rafale with complete
versatility to carry out the following missions:
» Interception and air-to-air combat with 30mm gun and Mica IR/EM
missiles (+ Meteor missiles from 2018 onwards).
» Ground support with 30mm gun, GBU-12/24 laser-guided bombs and
Hammer precision-guided bombs.
» In depth strikes with Scalp cruise missiles.
» Sea strikes with the Exocet AM39 Block 2 missile and other air-to-surface
weapons.
» Real-time strategic and tactical reconnaissance with the Areos
pod.
» In-flight refueling from one Rafale to another (“buddy-buddy”).
» Nuclear deterrence with the ASMP-A missile.

The French Carrier Air Group consists of three fighter Flotilles (11F,
12F and 17F), The E-2C Hawkeye Flottile (4F) and a detachment from Helicopter
Flottile 35F for Search and Rescue. Flotilles 11F and 12F fly on Rafale
M while the 17F fly on Super Etendard Modernisé (SEM). In the
summer of 2016, SEM will be removed from service and aircraft carrier
Charles de Gaulle will transition to an "100% Rafale" fighter
air wing.

The Rafale
M F3R during the evaluation campaign with the French Navy. Picture: French
Navy

Compared to the latest F3 standard currently in service, the future F3R
standard will also allow the Rafale M to carry the new laser designation
pod in its air to ground missions and a new refueling pod essential in
operations around the CSG (carrier strike group).

The first Rafale M F3R is expected to enter operational service with the
French Navy around 2020.